Influence of amsacrine (m-AMSA) on bulk and gene-specific DNA damage and c-myc expression in MCF-7 breast tumor cells

The Novel Artemisinin Dimer Isoniazide ELI-XXIII-98-2 Induces c-MYC Inhibition, DNA Damage, and Autophagy in Leukemia Cells

The proto-oncogenic transcription factor c-MYC plays a pivotal role in the development of tumorigenesis, cellular proliferation, and the control of cell death. Its expression is frequently altered in many cancer types, including hematological malignancies such as leukemia. The dimer isoniazide ELI-XXIII-98-2 is a derivative of the natural product artemisinin, with two artemisinin molecules and an isoniazide moiety as a linker in between them. In this study, we aimed to study the anticancer activity and the molecular mechanisms of this dimer molecule in drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM leukemia cells and their corresponding multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000 sub-line. The growth inhibitory activity was studied using the resazurin assay. To reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the growth inhibitory activity, we performed in silico molecular docking, followed by several in vitro approaches such as the MYC reporter assay, microscale thermophoresis, microarray analyses, immunoblotting, qPCR, and comet assay. The artemisinin dimer isoniazide showed a potent growth inhibitory activity in CCRF-CEM but a 12-fold cross-resistance in multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000 cells. The molecular docking of artemisinin dimer isoniazide with c-MYC revealed a good binding (lowest binding energy of −9.84 ± 0.3 kcal/mol) and a predicted inhibition constant (pKi) of 66.46 ± 29.5 nM, which was confirmed by microscale thermophoresis and MYC reporter cell assays. Furthermore, c-MYC expression was downregulated by this compound in microarray hybridization and Western blotting analyses. Finally, the artemisinin dimer isoniazide modulated the expression of autophagy markers (LC3B and p62) and the DNA damage marker pH2AX, indicating the stimulation of both autophagy and DNA damage, respectively. Additionally, DNA double-strand breaks were observed in the alkaline comet assay. DNA damage, apoptosis, and autophagy induction could be attributed to the inhibition of c-MYC by ELI-XXIII-98-2.

TOP2B Enzymatic Activity on Promoters and Introns Modulates Multiple Oncogenes in Human Gliomas

PURPOSE

The epigenetic mechanisms involved in transcriptional regulation leading to malignant phenotype in gliomas remains poorly understood. Topoisomerase IIB (TOP2B), an enzyme that decoils and releases torsional forces in DNA, is overexpressed in a subset of gliomas. Therefore, we investigated its role in epigenetic regulation in these tumors.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

To investigate the role of TOP2B in epigenetic regulation in gliomas, we performed paired chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing for TOP2B and RNA-sequencing analysis of glioma cell lines with and without TOP2B inhibition and in human glioma specimens. These experiments were complemented with assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing, gene silencing, and mouse xenograft experiments to investigate the function of TOP2B and its role in glioma phenotypes.

RESULTS

We discovered that TOP2B modulates transcription of multiple oncogenes in human gliomas. TOP2B regulated transcription only at sites where it was enzymatically active, but not at all native binding sites. In particular, TOP2B activity localized in enhancers, promoters, and introns of PDGFRA and MYC, facilitating their expression. TOP2B levels and genomic localization was associated with PDGFRA and MYC expression across glioma specimens, which was not seen in nontumoral human brain tissue. In vivo, TOP2B knockdown of human glioma intracranial implants prolonged survival and downregulated PDGFRA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that TOP2B activity exerts a pleiotropic role in transcriptional regulation of oncogenes in a subset of gliomas promoting a proliferative phenotype.

MYC: a multipurpose oncogene with prognostic and therapeutic implications in blood malignancies

MYC oncogene is a transcription factor with a wide array of functions affecting cellular activities such as cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA damage response, and hematopoiesis. Due to the multi-functionality of MYC, its expression is regulated at multiple levels. Deregulation of this oncogene can give rise to a variety of cancers. In this review, MYC regulation and the mechanisms by which MYC adjusts cellular functions and its implication in hematologic malignancies are summarized. Further, we also discuss potential inhibitors of MYC that could be beneficial for treating hematologic malignancies.

A cell competition-based small molecule screen identifies a novel compound that induces dual c-Myc depletion and p53 activation

Breakpoint Cluster Region-Abelson kinase (BCR-Abl) is a driver oncogene that causes chronic myeloid leukemia and a subset of acute lymphoid leukemias. Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors provide an effective treatment for these diseases, they generally do not kill leukemic stem cells (LSCs), the cancer-initiating cells that compete with normal hematopoietic stem cells for the bone marrow niche. New strategies to target cancers driven by BCR-Abl are therefore urgently needed. We performed a small molecule screen based on competition between isogenic untransformed cells and BCR-Abl-transformed cells and identified several compounds that selectively impair the fitness of BCR-Abl-transformed cells. Interestingly, systems-level analysis of one of these novel compounds, DJ34, revealed that it induced depletion of c-Myc and activation of p53. DJ34-mediated c-Myc depletion occurred in a wide range of tumor cell types, including lymphoma, lung, glioblastoma, breast cancer, and several forms of leukemia, with primary LSCs being particularly sensitive to DJ34. Further analyses revealed that DJ34 interferes with c-Myc synthesis at the level of transcription, and we provide data showing that DJ34 is a DNA intercalator and topoisomerase II inhibitor. Physiologically, DJ34 induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cell differentiation. Taken together, we have identified a novel compound that dually targets c-Myc and p53 in a wide variety of cancers, and with particularly strong activity against LSCs.

DNA damage, c-myc suppression and apoptosis induced by the novel topoisomerase II inhibitor, salvicine, in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Salvicine, a diterpenoid quinone compound, possesses potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity. Salvicine is a novel non-intercalative topoisomerase II poison. In this study salvicine induced evident DNA damage, which was further characterized as double-strand breaks mainly in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The degree of damage was highly correlated with growth inhibition of MCF-7. Using a PCR-stop assay we demonstrated that this damage was selective. Preferential damage occurred in the p2 promoter region, but not the 3'-end of the protooncogene c-myc. The expression of oncogenes, such as c-myc and c-jun, was additionally investigated. Salvicine induced a dose-dependent decrease in c-myc gene transcription, concomitant with an increase in c-jun expression. Furthermore, reverse-transcription PCR and Western blotting data revealed that salvicine failed to stimulate the mRNA and protein levels of p53 and its downstream targets p21 and bax. The phosphorylation degree of serine 15 of p53, which is thought to be an active form of p53 in response to cellular DNA damage, remained in a steady state. In view of these results, we propose that the downregulation of c-myc resulting from selective damage plays a role in apoptosis signaling. Moreover, salvicine-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 subsequent to DNA damage seems to be mediated through a p53-independent pathway.

Transcriptional consequences of topoisomerase inhibition

In principle, the generation, transmission, and dissipation of supercoiling forces are determined by the arrangement of the physical barriers defining topological boundaries and the disposition of enzymes creating (polymerases and helicases, etc.) or releasing (topoisomerases) torsional strain in DNA. These features are likely to be characteristic for individual genes. By using topoisomerase inhibitors to alter the balance between supercoiling forces in vivo, we monitored changes in the basal transcriptional activity and DNA conformation for several genes. Every gene examined displayed an individualized profile in response to inhibition of topoisomerase I or II. The expression changes elicited by camptothecin (topoisomerase I inhibitor) or adriamycin (topoisomerase II inhibitor) were not equivalent. Camptothecin generally caused transcription complexes to stall in the midst of transcription units, while provoking little response at promoters. Adriamycin, in contrast, caused dramatic changes at or near promoters and prevented transcription. The response to topoisomerase inhibition was also context dependent, differing between chromosomal or episomal c-myc promoters. In addition to being well-characterized DNA-damaging agents, topoisomerase inhibitors may evoke a biological response determined in part from transcriptional effects. The results have ramifications for the use of these drugs as antineoplastic agents.

Suppression of c-myc expression and c-Myc function in response to sustained DNA damage in MCF-7 breast tumor cells

The topoisomerase II inhibitors teniposide (VM-26), doxorubicin, and amsacrine (m-AMSA), as well as ionizing radiation, induce a transient suppression of c-myc mRNA, which correlates with growth inhibition of MCF-7 breast tumor cells. To further assess the involvement of c-mvc in the DNA damage-induced signal transduction pathways of the breast tumor cell, we determined the influence of sustained DNA damage on c-myc expression, c-Myc protein levels and c-Myc function. Continuous exposure of MCF-7 breast tumor cells to VM-26 induced DNA strand breaks that were sustained for at least 9 hr. DNA strand breakage was accompanied by a decline in c-myc transcripts and c-Myc protein levels by >90% after VM-26 exposure for 24 hr. The activity of a transcriptional target of the c-Myc protein, ornithine decarboxylase, was reduced by approximately 75% within 9 hr of DNA damage, in parallel to the declines in c-myc mRNA and protein levels. Extended exposure to VM-26 resulted in an initial loss of approximately 35% of the cell population followed by the death of additional cells such that by 72 hr only 50% of the cells were viable. Although apoptosis was evident 72 hr after initiating drug exposure [based on cell cycle analysis, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assays, and an assessment of cell morphology], the primary phase of cell killing, which occurred during the first 24 hr was non-apoptotic. These studies indicate that non-apoptotic pathways can also mediate cell death in the breast tumor cell and support the role of c-myc expression, c-Myc protein, and c-Myc function as elements of the DNA damage response pathway in the breast tumor cell.

Induction of bulk and c-myc P2 promoter-specific DNA damage by an anti-topoisomerase II agent salvicine is an early event leading to apoptosis in HL-60 cells

Salvicine is a novel diterpenoid quinone derivative possessing strong antitumor activities and was demonstrated to stabilize the DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II) cleavage complex in vitro and in vivo. In the present work we investigated the possible mechanism through which disturbance of Topo II by salvicine led to cell death. We found that salvicine induced DNA strand breaks in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells and DNA damage correlated with cell growth inhibition. DNA damage induced by brief exposure to salvicine could be partially reversed, but early DNA breaks triggered the process of apoptosis. Preferential damage in the P2 promoter region of the oncogene c-myc was detected, whereas no obvious DNA damage was found in the 3' region of the same gene. Furthermore, the expression of some protooncogenes such as c-myc, c-fos and c-jun was examined, showing that salvicine produced a reduction in the transcription rate of c-myc in a dose-dependent manner and a marked induction of c-fos and c-jun expression was observed. It appears possible that DNA damage within such genomic regions is an early event, which could lead to growth inhibition mediated by alterations of the expression of selected proliferation regulatory genes, such as c-myc, c-fos and c-jun, and ultimately cell death.

Doxorubicin-induced alterations of c-myc and c-jun gene expression in rat glioblastoma cells: role of c-jun in drug resistance and cell death

We studied the effect of doxorubicin on the expression of c-myc and c-jun in the rat glioblastoma cell line C6 and its doxorubicin-resistant variant C6 0.5, at equitoxic exposures. For quantitation, the mRNA levels of these oncogenes were related to those of two domestic genes, beta-actin and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase. After a transient overexpression of the genes during the first hour of incubation, there was a selective, dose-dependent down-regulation of both genes by doxorubicin in the sensitive cells. In the resistant cell line, c-myc expression was also decreased in response to doxorubicin incubation, but the expression of c-jun remained unchanged over the whole range of concentrations. In contrast, vincristine had no effect on the amounts of c-myc and c-jun mRNAs in either line. The effect of doxorubicin on the mRNA levels of c-jun was also observed on the JUN proteins by immunoblotting, but the MYC protein levels remained unchanged upon doxorubicin treatment. There was a significant correlation between the levels of c-myc and c-jun gene expression and the degree of growth inhibition induced by doxorubicin. In addition, doxorubicin induced a fragmentation of DNA in sensitive cells, but not in resistant cells, thus revealing a resistance to apoptosis in this line. Doxorubicin-induced cell death did not appear to be mediated by p53 in either cell line.

Induction of DNA damage, inhibition of DNA synthesis, and suppression of c-myc expression by the topoisomerase I inhibitor, camptothecin, in MCF-7 human breast tumor cells

Previous work from this laboratory has demonstrated an association between the suppression of c-myc expression and the antiproliferative activity of both topoisomerase II inhibitors and ionizing radiation in MCF-7 breast tumor cells. These findings suggested that suppression of c-myc expression could be related to the induction of DNA damage in this cell line. The present studies were designed to determine whether the inhibition of topoisomerase I (and the consequent induction of DNA strand breaks) would also result in the suppression of c-myc expression. At camptothecin concentrations of 1 microM and below, there was no detectable damage (single- or double-strand breaks) in bulk DNA or suppression of c-myc expression. At camptothecin concentrations of 5, 10, and 25 microM, where suppression of c-myc expression was observed, strand breaks in bulk DNA were also detected. These findings are consistent with the idea that suppression of c-myc expression could be a component of the DNA damage response pathway in MCF-7 breast tumor cells. In contrast to the absence of detectable damage to bulk DNA or suppression of c-myc expression at the lower concentrations of camptothecin, DNA synthesis was inhibited over the entire range of drug concentrations and demonstrated a strong correspondence with growth inhibition. These observations support the concept that growth inhibition of MCF-7 cells by camptothecin is closely related to the early suppression of DNA synthesis.

Contribution of gene-specific lesions, DNA-replication-associated damage, and subsequent transcriptional inhibition in topoisomerase inhibitor-mediated apoptosis in lymphoma cells

Lymphoid lineage tumor cells differ widely in their relative sensitivity or resistance to the induction of apoptosis by a variety of chemotherapeutic drugs. We used a model system of virally transformed B- and T-lymphoma cell lines to show that avian T-lymphoma cells are highly resistant, whereas B-lymphoma cells are highly sensitive, to the induction of apoptosis by a wide spectrum of chemotherapeutic drugs that induce different types of lesions in DNA. Among the various drugs examined, the topoisomerase inhibitors, camptothecin, actinomycin D, and etoposide, were the most potent inducers of apoptosis. Examination of the relative contribution of DNA replication and transcriptional inhibition to the differential induction of apoptosis by the topoisomerase inhibitors revealed that the signals initiating the apoptotic response vary, even among compounds with similar cellular targets. Specifically, DNA replication plays a major role in the induction of camptothecin-induced apoptosis, and a lesser role in the induction of apoptosis by etoposide. In contrast, DNA replication is not involved in the induction of apoptosis by actinomycin D. Transcriptional inhibition may provide the major cellular signal for apoptosis induction by this compound. In addition, we determined that the extent of topoisomerase I-cleavable complex inhibition is similar even in genes that are transcribed at different levels and by different RNA polymerases. An overexpressed c-myc gene is no more vulnerable to topoisomerase inhibition than its normally expressed counterpart. In contrast, even under conditions yielding similar amounts of topoisomerase inhibition, rRNA genes are more sensitive to transcriptional inhibition than are the c-myc genes.

Influence of ionizing radiation on proliferation, c-myc expression and the induction of apoptotic cell death in two breast tumour cell lines differing in p53 status

PURPOSE

To determine the capacity of ionizing radiation to inhibit proliferation, to suppress c-myc expression and to induce apoptotic cell death in the p53 wild-type MCF-7 cell line and the p53 mutated MDA-MB231 cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Growth inhibition and cell killing were determined by cell number and trypan blue exclusion. Apoptosis was assessed through cell morphology and fluorescent end-labelling. c-myc expression was monitored by Northern blotting.

RESULTS

Inhibition of cell proliferation by ionizing radiation was similar in both cell lines. MDA-MB231 cells accumulated in G2 while MCF-7 cells accumulated in both the G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle after irradiation. There was no evidence of apoptosis in either cell line. In MCF-7 cells, growth inhibition correlated closely with an early dose-dependent suppression of c-myc expression; in MDA-MB231 cells, there was no correspondence between growth inhibition and a transient, dose-independent reduction in c-myc message.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that in the absence of classical apoptotic cell death, radiosensitivity is not predictably related to the p53 status of the cell. While both p53 and c-myc may be linked to the DNA damage response pathway, neither p53 nor c-myc are essential for growth arrest in response to ionizing radiation.

Relationship between lethal effects and topoisomerase II-mediated double-stranded DNA breaks produced by anthracyclines with different sequence specificity

The role of the site selectivity of topoisomerase II poisoning in the cytotoxic activity of anthracyclines has not been established. In this article, we have thus studied the levels and persistence of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB) along with the cytotoxic activity in human leukemic HL60 cells of seven anthracyclines, including doxorubicin, daunorubicin, and idarubicin, as well as sugar-modified analogues characterized by an altered sequence specificity. Epimerization at the 3' position of the sugar moiety markedly affected the biological activity; indeed, a dramatic reduction of drug effects was evident for 3'-deamino-3'-epi-hydroxy-4'-deoxy-4'-amino-daunorubicin. The studied analogues could be gathered into three groups based on the DSB/cytotoxicity ratio. At equitoxic concentrations: (a) parent drugs and 3'-deamino-3'-epi-hydroxy-4'-deoxy-4'-amino-daunorubicin endowed with the same sequence specificity stimulated low DSB levels; (b) 3'-epi-daunorubicin and 3'-deamino-4'-deoxy-4'-epi-amino-idarubicin, which have a different sequence specificity, and teniposide (a structurally unrelated poison) stimulated higher amounts of DSB; and (c) 4-demethoxy-3'-deamino-3'-hydroxy-4'-epi-doxorubicin stimulated the highest DSB levels. For the last agent, a faster rate of cleavage resealing, which is consistent with a reduced DNA binding affinity, could account for the increased DSB/cytotoxicity ratio compared with parent drugs. However, for other analogues, the observed differences in DSB persistence/resealing could not completely explain the different DSB/cytotoxicity ratios. The results thus suggest that the cytotoxic potency of anthracyclines may be the result of an interplay of the level, the persistence, and the genomic localization of topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage.

Defining a role for c-Myc in breast tumorigenesis

The proto-oncogene c-myc is commonly amplified and overexpressed in human breast tumors, and the tumorigenic potential of c-myc overexpression in mammary tissue has been confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo models of breast cancer. However, the mechanisms by which Myc promotes tumorigenesis are not well understood. Recent evidence indicates that Myc can promote cell proliferation as well as cell death via apoptosis. These studies provide new insight and impetus in defining a role for c-Myc in breast tumorigenesis and may point toward novel targets for breast cancer therapy.

Mutagenicity of anticancer drugs that inhibit topoisomerase enzymes

Topoisomerases are enzymes that catalyse the transient breakage and rejoining of either one (topo I) or two (topo II) DNA strands, to allow one strand to pass through another and prevent unresolvable tangles during processes such as DNA replication. A number of important clinical antitumour agents act through inhibition of topo II enzymes, while some topo I inhibitors appear likely to enter clinical use. Although these chemicals do not covalently interact with DNA, they have strong mutagenic potential, generally causing events at the level of the chromosome rather than that of the gene. Most are recombinogens, may affect gene expression and can also lead to aneuploidy through effects on chromosome segregation. Most topo I and topo II inhibitors primarily cause mutagenic events associated with the replication fork. However, at least in mitotic chromosomes, topo II enzymes are located at the base of chromosome loops, and topo II inhibitors may facilitate subunit exchanges, leading to major deletions and illegitimate recombinational events. There is evidence that programmed cell death provides an alternative pathway to mutagenesis following treatment by either topo I or topo II inhibitors. The final fate of the cell will result from a balance between these two processes.

Growth arrest and non-apoptotic cell death associated with the suppression of c-myc expression in MCF-7 breast tumor cells following acute exposure to doxorubicin

In the MCF-7 human breast [correction of beast] adenocarcinoma cell line, acute exposure to 1 muM doxorubicin inhibited cell proliferation by approximately 75%. Analysis of cell cycle distribution indicated that within 24 hr, the G(2)/M fraction increased more than 3-fold and the S-phase population declined by >50%. In addition to growth arrest, there was an approximately 40% reduction in the viable cell population after 72 hr. Gel electrophoretic resolution of low molecular weight DNA immediately after exposure of cells to doxorubicin failed to demonstrate "laddered" oligonucleosomal profiles associated with apoptosis. The absence of intracellular DNA fragments or release of fragmented DNA into the incubation medium was confirmed by spectrofluorophotometry over a 72 hr interval following exposure of cells to 1 muM doxorubicin. In addition, there was no evidence of the morphological features associated with apoptosis during this period. Acute exposure to 1 muM doxorubicin also produced a transient increase in c-myc message expression (within the first hour) followed by a decline to 70% of control levels within 2-4 hr. The reduction in c-myc mRNA levels was concentration dependent and corresponded closely with growth arrest (as well as with inhibition of DNA synthesis). These findings (as well as similar reports demonstrating a correspondence between reduced c-myc expression and growth inhibition by VM-26 and m-AMSA in MCF-7 cells) suggest that the down-regulation of c-myc expression may reflect perturbations in regulatory processes contributing to growth arrest in MCF-7 cells exposed to topoisomerase II inhibitors.

Ionizing radiation-induced DNA strand breakage and rejoining in specific genomic regions as determined by an alkaline unwinding/Southern blotting method

A recently developed, combined alkaline unwinding/Southern blotting assay was utilized to examine DNA damage and repair induced by ionizing radiation within specific large-scale genomic regions. Following treatment of MCF-7 breast tumour cells with 2-10-Gy gamma-rays, strand breakage and rejoining were measured in bulk DNA, in the centromeric alpha-satellite region of chromosome 17, and in the chromatin regions containing the unexpressed beta-globin gene and the expressed c-myc oncogene, which is known to be important for growth in the MCF-7 cell line. Damage in both the c-myc and beta-globin regions was markedly greater than in either alpha-satellite or bulk DNA. However, the kinetics of strand break repair were approximately the same in c-myc as in alpha-satellite or bulk DNA. Surprisingly, the radiomimetic antibiotic bleomycin, which also induces free-radical-mediated strand breakage, showed considerably less heterogeneity of DNA damage among the genomic regions examined than did radiation. The results suggest that actively transcribed genes, as well as at least some inactive genes, are surrounded by large-scale domains of radiosensitive chromatin. With no apparent enhancement of rejoining, the increased incidence of strand breaks in these regions persists until rejoining is essentially complete. Changes in the integrity of specific chromatin regions may be an important aspect of DNA damage-induced cell death.

Selective damage to the active X chromosome by camptothecin and amsacrine as determined by an allele-specific alkaline unwinding assay

Previous studies with MCF-7 cells demonstrated that several agents induce greater strand breakage in active genes than in nontranscribed centromeric regions. To better assess the effects of gene activity and inactivity, an allele-specific DNA strand break assay was developed, which allowed direct comparison of damage at a specific genetic locus on the active and inactive X chromosomes. The ZP lymphoblastoid cell line is heterozygous at the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) locus, and the unexpressed (A) allele on the inactive X chromosome contains a FokI restriction site that is lacking in the expressed (B) allele on the active X. ZP cells were treated with camptothecin or amsacrine, and subjected to alkaline-induced DNA unwinding. Following detergent lysis and digestion of single-stranded DNA with S1 nuclease, the remaining double-stranded DNA was isolated and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers that flank the polymorphic FokI site, with [alpha-32P]dCTP being added in the last PCR cycle. The resulting labeled PCR product was cleaved with FokI to assess the A/B allele ratio in the double-stranded DNA fraction. Treatment with camptothecin and amsacrine increased the apparent A/B ratio by factors of 2-3 and 1.5-2 respectively, indicating that the active B allele is preferentially damaged by these agents.

Transcriptional down-regulation of c-myc expression in the MCF-7 breast tumor cell line by the topoisomerase II inhibitor, VM-26

In the MCF-7 human breast tumor cell line, the topoisomerase II inhibitor, VM-26, produces a concentration dependent reduction in expression of the oncogene c-myc which parallels growth inhibition. Down-regulation of c-myc expression was examined at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. VM-26, at 10 microM, produced a reduction in the transcription rate of both sense and antisense strands of c-myc as determined by nuclear run-off analysis. In contrast, in the presence of the RNA synthesis inhibitor, actinomycin D, VM-26 failed to alter the half-life of the c-myc message. The capacity of VM-26 to reduce c-myc expression was not abrogated in cells pretreated with the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (despite superinduction of c-myc expression in both control and VM-26 treated cells); this observation suggests that de novo protein synthesis may not be required to mediate the effects of VM-26 on steady state c-myc transcript levels. An extended analysis of the time course of c-myc expression demonstrated that the decline of steady state c-myc mRNA levels induced by VM-26 was biphasic, 6 h after the initial reduction in c-myc expression to approx. 30% of control levels, c-myc levels rebounded to 70% of control; after 24 h, c-myc expression declined gradually and remained at depressed levels (40% of control) at 48 and 72 h. These observations suggest that the initial transient reduction in c-myc expression associated with inhibition of transcription may represent a component of an early signalling pathway leading to growth arrest in MCF-7 breast tumor cells exposed to VM-26.